Presence of group members lowers IQ

Posted on May 30, 2018

Solving problems in a group decreases the cognitive performance of its members. This decrease is found to be more pronounced in women.

Research by Professor Read Montague found that the decrease in IQ is correlated to the actual or perceived social status of the members. Although the group members had similar IQ levels, their performances were affected by the social rankings as the members who were deemed as "lower IQ" presented poorer problem-solving abilities.

This study illustrates the effects that social standing has on individual IQ levels and problem solving abilities, and group settings have a huge role to play.

This research can also be further explained by social theory known as Social Loafing, where the presence of group members result in relaxation, which may hinder individual performance. More information can be found on http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/group/social-loafing/